Chapter 2 - Gabriel Discovered Someone Had Been Using Clara to Move Secrets Through His Empire Without Her Ever Knowing
The next morning, Clara woke to twenty-three messages.
Nine from clients.
Seven from coworkers.
Four from Chloe.
And three from numbers she didn't recognize.
The first unknown message said:
You should have stayed invisible.
The second:
He cannot protect you forever.
The third contained only a photograph.
Gabriel carrying her from the ballroom.
Clara stared at it.
Someone had been inside the hotel.
Someone had watched the entire scene.
She called Chloe.
“What happened last night?”
“Your boss bought the company.”
“I know.”
“And apparently you have a new security detail.”
“I know.”
“Clara…”
“What?”
“You need to tell me everything.”
“There isn't anything to tell.”
Chloe laughed.
“You fell onto Gabriel Costa's lap in front of four hundred people.”
“Accidentally.”
“You stayed there.”
“He wouldn't let me stand.”
“Exactly.”
Clara groaned.
“Please don't.”
“I'm serious.”
“So am I.”
“Do you know how many women would kill to be in your position?”
“I don't want to be in my position.”
“What position?”
“The one where a billionaire crime lord owns my employer and I'm apparently his personal hostage.”
Chloe went silent.
“You know who he really is?”
“Everyone knows.”
“Clara.”
She rubbed her forehead.
“I have to go.”
Before Chloe could answer, someone knocked.
Clara opened the door.
Two men in dark suits stood outside.
“Ms. Hughes?”
“Yes?”
“Mr. Costa sent us.”
“I don't need an escort.”
“We're not asking.”
She sighed.
“Of course.”
The drive to Costa headquarters took twenty minutes.
Gabriel was waiting.
He was wearing a charcoal suit.
No tie.
He looked less like a billionaire and more like the man people whispered about.
Clara entered his office.
“You bought my company.”
“Yes.”
“You didn't ask.”
“No.”
“You can't just do that.”
“I can.”
She glared.
“That doesn't make it right.”
“No.”
He looked at her.
“That is why I want to apologize.”
She stopped.
“Did Gabriel Costa just apologize?”
“Yes.”
“Should I sit down?”
“You should.”
She sat.
He placed a folder in front of her.
“Your company has been hiding revenue.”
“From whom?”
“Clients.”
“How?”
“Inflated bills.”
Clara frowned.
“That isn't possible.”
“You check every invoice.”
“Yes.”
“That's why.”
She looked confused.
Gabriel pointed.
“These are the invoices you approved.”
Clara scanned them.
She recognized the events.
But not the numbers.
She hadn't seen the final totals.
“Someone changed them after approval.”
“Yes.”
“Who?”
“Your finance director.”
Her stomach dropped.
“Martin?”
Gabriel nodded.
“He's missing.”
Clara stared.
“When?”
“Last night.”
She stood.
“Did you kill him?”
Gabriel's expression hardened.
“No.”
She waited.
“I don't hurt people for convenience.”
He looked directly at her.
“You should know that by now.”
Clara didn't know whether she believed him.
Then Gabriel opened another file.
“Your father.”
Everything stopped.
“My father?”
“Samuel Hughes.”
Clara's breath caught.
“How do you know his name?”
“He worked for my father.”
Her father had never mentioned the Costas.
He had died when Clara was nineteen.
A heart attack.
At least that's what the family believed.
Gabriel placed a photograph on the desk.
Two men.
Her father.
Gabriel's father.
Standing beside a shipping container.
She stared.
“He worked for him?”
“Yes.”
“As what?”
“Accountant.”
Clara felt dizzy.
“What happened?”
“He found something.”
“What?”
Gabriel's voice lowered.
“A ledger.”
Clara remembered childhood.
Her father locking one drawer.
Never letting anyone touch it.
The strange gold key on his desk.
A warning:
Never open it unless someone from the Costa family asks for it.
Her skin prickled.
Gabriel saw her reaction.
“You remember.”
“I remember a key.”
“Where is it?”
“I don't know.”
“You're sure?”
“Yes.”
He stared.
Then his phone rang.
He answered.
His expression changed.
“What?”
Silence.
“Bring him.”
He ended the call.
“Who?”
“Martin.”
Clara stood.
“He's alive?”
“Yes.”
“Where?”
“He's in a warehouse.”
“Is he hurt?”
Gabriel looked at her.
“Probably.”
“Take me.”
“No.”
“I need answers.”
“No.”
“You said I was protected.”
“I said you're protected.”
“And now I want to know what is happening.”
Gabriel stared.
Then nodded.
“Fine.”
The warehouse was empty when they arrived.
Martin was tied to a chair.
Blood on his shirt.
He looked at Clara.
“I'm sorry.”
“What did you do?”
“I was ordered.”
“By whom?”
Martin looked at Gabriel.
Gabriel stepped closer.
“Tell her.”
Martin shook his head.
“They'll kill my family.”
Gabriel crouched.
“Who?”
Martin swallowed.
“Your uncle.”
Gabriel's eyes hardened.
“I don't have an uncle.”
“You do.”
Martin whispered:
“Daniel Costa.”
Clara looked at Gabriel.
“Daniel?”
Gabriel stood.
“Dead.”
Martin shook his head.
“No.”
“He died when I was twelve.”
“He survived.”
Silence.
Martin continued.
“He's the one running the operation.”
Gabriel's face became unreadable.
“What operation?”
“The one using Clara.”
Clara's blood went cold.
“Why me?”
Martin looked at her.
“Because your father hid something before he died.”
“The ledger.”
“No.”
Martin whispered:
“The key.”
Clara stepped forward.
“What key?”
Martin's eyes filled with fear.
“Your father didn't leave you a key.”
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“He left you a memory.”
---
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